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For the gullies are deep, and the uplands are steep,
And mud will of purls be the token,
And the tough stringy-bark, that invites us to lark,
With impunity may not be broken.

Though Ballarat’s fast, and they say he can last,
And that may be granted hereafter,
Yet the judge’s decision to the Border division
Will bring neither shouting nor laughter.

And Blueskin, I’ve heard that he goes like a bird,
And I’m told that to back him would pay me;
He’s a good bit of stuff, but not quite good enough,
“Non licuit credere famae.”

Alfred ought to be there, we all of us swear
By the blood of King Alfred, his sire;
He’s not the real jam, by the blood of his dam,
So I sha’n’t put him down as a flyer.

Now, Hynam, my boy, I wish you great joy,
I know that when fresh you can jump, sir;
But you’ll scarce be in clover, when you’re ridden all over,
And punished from shoulder to rump, sir.

Archer goes like a shot, they can put on their pot,
And boil it to cover expenses;
Their pot will boil over, the run of his dover
He’ll never earn over big fences.

There’s a horse in the race, with a blaze on his face,
And we know he can gallop a docker!
He’s proved himself stout, of his speed there’s no doubt,
And his jumping’s according to Cocker.

When Hynam’s outstripp’d, and when Alfred is whipp’d,
To keep him in sight of the leaders,
While Blueskin runs true, but his backers look blue,
For his rider’s at work with the bleeders;

When his carcase of beef brings “the bullock” to grief,
And the rush of the tartan is ended;
When Archer’s in trouble–who’s that pulling double,
And taking his leaps unextended?

He wins all the way, and the rest–sweet, they say,
Is the smell of the newly-turned plough, friend,
But you smell it too close when it stops eyes and nose,
And you can’t tell your horse from your cow, friend.

Part III
Credat Judaeus Apella

Dear Bell,–I enclose what you ask in a letter,
A short rhyme at random, no more and no less,
And you may insert it, for want of a better,
Or leave it, it doesn’t much matter, I guess;
And as for a tip, why, there isn’t much in it,
I may hit the right nail, but first, I declare,
I haven’t a notion what’s going to win it
(The Champion, I mean), and what’s more, I don’t care.
Imprimis, there’s Cowra–few nags can go quicker
Than she can–and Smith takes his oath she can fly;
While Brown, Jones, and Robinson swear she’s a sticker,
But “credat Judaeus Apella”, say I.

There’s old Volunteer, I’d be sorry to sneer
At his chance; he’ll be there, if he goes at the rate
He went at last year, when a customer queer,
Johnny Higgerson, fancied him lock’d in the straight;
I’ve heard that the old horse has never been fitter,
I’ve heard all performances past he’ll outvie;
He may gallop a docker, and finish a splitter,
But “credat Judaeus Apella”, say I.

I know what they say, sir, “The Hook” he can stay, sir,
And stick to his work like a sleuth-hound or beagle;
He stays “with a HOOK”, and he sticks in the clay, sir;
I’d rather, for choice, pop my money on Seagull;
I’m told that the Sydney division will rue, sir,
Their rashness in front of the stand when they spy,
With a clear lead, the white jacket spotted with blue, sir,
But “credat Judaeus Apella”, say I.